Sports Equipment

A lot of people enjoy watching and playing football.  They often go out with friends and play a friendly game.  If you are just playing for fun, you don’t really need a lot of football equipment.  But if you are playing a real game you need the whole kit and caboodle.

First of all, you need a football field.  Then you need to mark the field with the correct distances.  You also need goal posts at each end of the field.  Of course, you can’t play a game without the football.  They have to be regulation balls with the correct size and weight.  Then you need two teams to enjoy a great football game.

Football today is not played like it was years ago.  The changes that were made did not happen overnight.  In the old days the game was all about defense and running the ball.  Quarterbacks ran the ball as well as blocking for the running backs.  It wasn’t until the 1930s that passing the ball was introduced. Until the birth of the AFL and then later the merger of the NFL teams started to add passing into the games.

It wasn’t until various rule changes made it easier to pass the ball.  Two penalties were removed from the rulebook.  The first one was a 5 yard penalty for two incomplete passes on a series of downs and the other was a loss of possession for incomplete passes in the end zone.  The ball became more streamlined and easier to handle.  Not like it was when it was shaped like an old rugby football. Since the rule changes teams could now pass more and not worry about penalties.
Suddenly throwing the football became the thing to do in the 30s, 40s and 50s. It was an easier way for smaller and weaker teams to even the playing field.  There is now more open space, with fewer players clustered around the offense and defense appliance.

For a long time the quarterback threw the ball up in the air and hope that a receiver was in position and could jump up and catch the ball. The new innovation of football was molded in the lower levels of the game.  It wasn’t until the high school and college level introduced innovations in the blocking techniques and passing routes.
The passing at the pro level largely happened because of the formation of the new American League, the AFL.  The AFL competed with the NFL by offering a more exciting game. Many teams were on the West Coast featuring beautiful weather and offenses to match.  The long bomb-pass was a common sight.  The AFL was passing eight times more than the NFL.
Football coaches like Al Davis and Sid Gillman spread the passing game all over the field to put up large scores and to keep the defenses guessing.  Football fans were electrified with the passing game, while others became bored with the NFL’s slower style.
In the 1960s the AFL hoped to draw more fans with their high scoring passing style, who didn’t have ties at the collegiate level or had ties to the NFL.  They wanted to attract the better college level quarterbacks by promising them that they would pass more.
The AFC successfully competed with the NFL before the leagues were merged in 1970.  Because of the merger it meant that they NFL had to adapt to the new passing game or it would be left out in the cold.
When the West Coast offense was introduced it utilized receivers, running backs, and tight ends.

Since the 80s, 90s, and up until the present many changes have been made in the offenses and defenses plays to make the game as exciting as it is today.

If you’re familiar with football then you know the kind of rigorous training that each player goes through.  There are upper body workouts, core training and a number of other exercises designed to toughen up an individual.  It only follows that there are a lot of training equipment utilized.  Football shields are training tools that help with resistance and strength training.  They are designed to withstand tough blows while protecting the player.

Football shields come in a variety of designs.  Constructed with polyfoam and vinyl, it acts primarily as a hitting or charging surface during practice.  It absorbs the force from the blow without harming the player.  Most teams have individual or group football shields.  These shields help trainers teach the players proper blocking or tackling techniques that are essential if a player wants to pursue football as a career path.

Over the years some teams have changed cities just to find that their true fans were at home.  For example, teams like Oakland and Cleveland.
These 32 football teams try to offer pride, but sometimes shame to their beloved fans.
The NFL boast some of the finest athletes to play in professional sports.  All playing for a chance to play in the Super Bowl and to call themselves World Champions.
The NFL is presently made up of two football conferences.  The AFC and NFC.
Within each conference there are four divisions North, South, East, and West.
Each team competing against there inter- divisional rivals two times each year.
When there is a solid team playing in a weak division it makes for an easier chance for that team to become the division champions.
Since there are many changes every year it’s interesting to see who will be the dominant team in their division. 
All the divisions could change if more expansion teams are added.
Following the regular season, the top teams match up against the other top teams in their divisions to see who will become the division champion.
The division champions will then play in the Super Bowl and become The World Champions.

Penalties Against Either Team
 
Spearing: A tackle or any kind of contact when the player leads the tackle with his helmet. The referee signals this by placing his closed fist against the side of his head.
 
Personal Foul: A player conducts himself in a way that can cause injury to another player or himself. The referees can make a judgment call to eject the player from the game depending on how malicious the act was. The referee signals this by moving one arm in a hammer striking or karate chop motion to his opposite wrist. This is just a 15-yard penalty if committed by the offense, however, an automatic first down is awarded to the offense if committed by a defensive player. If players from both teams are involved in the penalty, the penalties offset each other, and the down is replayed.
 
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Any player or coach acts or speaks in a way the referees think is objectionable. Contact will not be involved as that would be a Personal Foul. These penalties can be verbal (taunting) or non-verbal (extended end zone celebration). The referee will signal with both arms extended to the sides perpendicular to the body with open hands. This is a 15-yard penalty.
 
Illegal Participation: When 12 or more players participate in a play by either team. No player may join the field of play once the play has begun, even if their team has less than 11 players on the field. This penalty is also called when a player runs out of bounds and touches the football whether by reception, or loose football recovery. This is a 15-yard penalty and the referee signals this by placing both hands on top of his head.
 
Substitution Infraction: When either team has 12 or more players in the huddle or if a player attempts to leave the field after the play has begun. The referee signals by placing their arm along the side of the body with their palm touching the opposite shoulder. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Sideline Infraction: When any coach or player on the sidelines breaches the sideline boundary. A referee typically issues a sideline warning before throwing a penalty flag. The first infraction is 5 yards and any following fouls are 15 yards.
 
Violations of the Equipment: When any player on the field is without the necessary safety equipment such as a mouthpiece or if their chin strap isn’t fastened. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Neutral Zone Infraction: When a defensive player moves into the neutral zone (the area along the line of scrimmage) in an attempt to cause the offensive player to false start. The referee will signal by putting both his hands on his hips. This is a 5-yard penalty.
 
Encroachment: When a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and touches an offensive player or has a clear path to the quarterback. The referees will immediately blow their whistle to stop the play before it starts. The referee signal is the same as the Neutral Zone Infraction and also carries a 5-yard penalty.
 
Running Into the Kicker: When there is a kicking play and a defensive player runs into the kicker or punter. If the contact is incidental, a 5-yard penalty is assessed, but if the foul is flagrant, then the officials will call a Roughing the Kicker penalty for 15 yards.
 
Roughing the Kicker: The defender misses the block kick but hits the kicker or punter in a way that could cause bodily harm. The referee calls a personal foul. This is a 15-yard penalty and gives the offense an automatic first down.
 
Defensive Delay of Game: When a defensive player intentionally delays or prevents the offense from making the next snap in a timely manner. The referee’s signal for defensive delay of game is the same as it is for offensive and this also carries a 5-yard penalty.

Defensive Pass Interference: When a defensive player impedes an offensive player from receiving a catchable pass and the football has not yet been touched by any other player. The referee’s signal is the same as offensive pass interference. This penalty results in an automatic first down and the ball is moved to the spot of the foul. If the penalty happens in the end zone, the ball is moved to the one yard line.

Defensive Holding: When a defensive player grabs an offensive player (to prevent a block) or a receiver from getting by. The referee’s signal is the same as offensive holding. This is a 10-yard penalty.
 
Illegal Hands to the Face: A defensive player pushes or hits an offensive player in the helmet. The referee signals with his forearm vertically held in front of him with his fist closed to his face in an up and down pulling motion. This penalty costs the defense 5 yards and gives the offense an automatic first down.
 
Incidental Facemask Contact: A touch and release of the face mask by a player on either team. The referee signal is the same as Illegal Hands to the Face. This is a 5-yard penalty.
 
Intentional Grabbing of the Face Mask: A defensive player grabs or twists the helmet of an offensive player while tackling or blocking. This is a 15-yard penalty and gives the offense an automatic first down.
 
Illegal Contact: A defensive player hits a receiver after the receiver has gone beyond 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. The referee signals by pushing one arm out from his body with his palm facing forward. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Roughing the Passer: a defender hits the passer a reasonable amount of time after the passer has thrown the ball. The referees also make a judgment call as to whether the hit was malicious which can result in ejecting the player from the game. Otherwise, this is a 15-yard penalty and gives the offense an automatic first down. 
 

The numbers for football players that are assigned to each player are usually the same on all teams.

The numbers 1 through 9 are usually reserved for quarterbacks and punters but their numbers can go as high is 19. 
The numbers 10 thruogh 19 are usually reserved for quarterbacks, kickers, punters, and wide receivers. 
The numbers for wide receivers can also be between 80 and 89.
The numbers 20 through 49 are usually reserved for running backs and defensive backs  (tight ends are also permitted to use the numbers 40 through 49 if the numbers 80 through 89 are not available).
The numbers 50 to 59 are usually reserved for centers and linebackers.
The numbers 60 through 79 are for offensive and defensive lineman. 
The numbers 80 through 89 are for wide receivers and tight ends. 
The numbers 90 through 99 are for the defense  lineman and linebackers.
Knowing these numbers will help you to know who is eligible to throw the ball, catch the football, and run with the football.  linemen are not eligible on the offense team are not eligible to catch a ball, unless it has been touched by a defensive player first, or the ball was fumbled.
                            

The offensive line is to protect the quarterback and tried to make an opening for a running back.  The linemen in the middle, that hands the football to the quarterback, is called the Center, the players on the left and the right side of the Center, are called the Guards, the players on the left side and the right side of the Guards, are called the Tackles.  Then you have the Quarterback.  If the team has two Running backs, one is usually called a halfback or tailback and the other is usually called a fullback.  There are also wide Receivers that lineup towards the sidelines and you also have Tight Ends that lineup outside the offensive line.
At least seven players must line up at the line of scrimmage on every play.  The rest of the players can lineup anywhere in the backfield.
On certain plays you may have 4 wide receivers, or you may have two or three tight ends or a combination of each as long as there are only 11 players on the field. 

On the Defensive side:
You will have 3 to 6 players that lineup across from the offensive line.  They try to handle the offensive line in order to free up the Linebackers that also try to tackle the running backs or the quarterback.
The linebackers can either rushed the quarterback or stay in position to try and tackle the receiver or block a pass.  The last line of defense is called a secondary, which consist of at least 3 players that are which are called defensive backs, they are either Cornerbacks or Safetys, their main objective is to block or intercept a pass, but sometimes, they will occasionally rush the passer.

The most common penalties that you find in football are:

False Start, when a player is lined up on the line of scrimmage and moves before the ball is snapped.

Offsides, when a defensive player is on the wrong side of the football before it is snapped.

Holding, when a player grabs or holds another player who is not carrying the ball

Pass interference, to have contact with the player to prevent him from catching the ball, either offense or defense

Delay of game, failing to begin a new play before the the timeclock counts down to zero

Face mask, grabbing the face mask of another player while trying to block or tackle him

Illegal block in the back, hitting a player in the back of the opposing team

Clipping, hitting a player on the back or side below the waist

Chop block, when an offensive player tries to cut block a defensive player that is already being blocked by another player

There are more rules that a team can receive penalties for but these are the most common.

The difference between touchbacks and a safety, safety is when an offensive player is tackled, forced out of bounds, or loses the football out of bounds, or the offensive player commits a certain foul (but this rarely happens) in his own end zone is called a safety.
If an offensive player fumbles the football forward into the end zone and then the ball goes out of bounds, this is called a touchback.  Touchbacks are more common in kickoffs and punt returns.